The Son Seeker IV, a 54-foot yacht, which was stolen and recovered from Oak Bay Marina on Monday, April 13. The suspect claimed to be infected with COVID-19, carried a knife, and was unwilling to cooperate. His joy ride ended just a few hundred meters south. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

With the help of the Coast Guard, Oak Bay police officers boarded a stolen yacht on Monday morning and arrested a 25-year-old male suspect who claimed he had COVID-19. (Oak Bay Police/Twitter)

Deputy Chief Ray Bernoties of the Oak Bay Police speaks to media regarding a stolen yacht from Oak Bay Marina on Monday, April 13. The suspect claimed to be infected with COVID-19, carried a knife, and was unwilling to cooperate. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

The Son Seeker IV, a 54-foot yacht, which was stolen and recovered from Oak Bay Marina on Monday, April 13. The suspect claimed to be infected with COVID-19, carried a knife, and was unwilling to cooperate. His joy ride ended just a few hundred meters south. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

At 3:30am, a 25 yr old prolific offender stole a 54 ft yacht from #OakBay. We notified Coast Guard & got a ride to it. We boarded & arrested male. He had knife in bed. He was uncooperative. He claimed to have #Covid_19. He is at hospital due to his Covid claim. Then to jail.👍 pic.twitter.com/XPYRVPP3uH

Its keys were left inside and it was parked in the immediate slip upon entering the marina.

Video evidence from Brnkl boat and security monitoring, who have a floating office just 10 metres away, captures a man paddling into the marina on a canoe. Footage shows that upon leaving, the man crashed the boat into the dock at least once and appeared to be stuck possibly twice before finally exiting.

“When the male was arrested he made claims he had COVID-19, which was a concern to our members so our members were (for the most part) masked, and masked the [suspect]. [He] remained uncooperative, banging his head against the shield in the police car,” Bernoties said. “We appealed to his good nature and tried to explain this is a very serious allegation.”

The coast guard towed the yacht back to the marina with police on board as a measure of safe-distancing from the suspect. The suspect was cleared by the hospital of COVID-19 testing and released to police custody, Bernoties said, though it is unknown if he has COVID-19.

Police say the suspect has an extensive criminal history and they plan to recommend charges which may include theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property of $5000, breach of conditions (as he is not to possess a knife), and mischief over $5,000 (for damage caused to the yacht when boarding).